Feature:
It's a mixing board. It doesn't re-invent the idea of being a mixing board. Faders, pots, sub-groups, output jacks, etc. It gives ya 14 REAL inputs (no light-pipe "options"). 14 places to plug in an input source, built in effects, and firewire. For this price, that's a lot.
Quality:
I don't think the product is well made. I think it is cheap, and you take a gamble for the price you pay. I got about 6 months of relatively trouble-free usage out of it. Took it from where I got it in the mail to the studio and never moved it. Never spilled beer on it (can't say that for all my gear) and it still pulled the plug on itself. Good luck.
Value:
This is the highest score because you can't beat the value. 14 firewire inputs (that's almost twice what most firewire i/o's offer at the same price), and if you're in a band that needs a mixing board, that's a twofer. Can't beat those options together. I just wish it didn't die on us. I likeed the board when it worked.
Desirability:
Nothing lowers an item's sexiness quotient more than looking like a Behringer product. NOTE: I also own a Behringer mixer, which has never lost a channel or blown out. It does sound like crap. Hey it's a Behringer!
Sound:
The headroom on the mic pre's aren't great. No where near "pro" level. Thin, hollow sound overall. Clipping happens pretty quickly when recording digitally, so watch your input level closely. At this price, it's what you'd expect. I'd love to put a really nice 8-channel analog or tube mic preamp in front of the board to see what it sounds like. Probably never get the option.
Ease of Use:
When it's working, it's pretty easy to use. Unfortunately I have sat for hours, turning the board on and off, restarting Logic Pro 7, and rebooting my G5 while my band mates sit and wait. Suck. Once it's working I've found you get about 4 hours or work time. Then it gets too hot or just decides to give you the hardware finger and call it a day.
Support:
Told Phonic about the channels burning out. They sent the stock "check your connections" email back in hard to understand english. I'll probably just find someone local to take a look at it since it's warranty ran out while we were spit and rubberbanding it along to record our demo tracks.
Overall:
Searching for something else right now. I'll probably go really low-brow for recording practice songs like a $200 portable digital recorder. If this product were stolen, I'd let that thing go like day old sushi.
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